Match-up with Maine in championship game is replay of nine years ago in same tournament for UMass hockey

UMass and Maine fought to a 2-2 overtime tie Nov. 18 at the Mullins Center
photo by J. Anthony Roberts

The win over No. 13 Cornell is a similar start as nine years ago when the University of Massachusetts opened with a win over then No. 11 Ohio State at the same tournament at Estero, Fla.

And like this year, the Minutemen went on to play Maine in the championship game of the tournament the next night. This time, they'll be looking for a much better result.

Maine blasted UMass 8-3 in what was likely one of Gabe Winer's worst games in goal.
Gabe allowed three goals on only seven shots in the first period, but UMass trailed only 3-2.

However, the Black Bears scored four goals on 15 shots in the second period, and Winer was lifted.

And if you can come up with the name of the goalie who replaced him in the third period, then you are in the Hall of Fame class of UMass hockey fans.

Sure, it was Michael Waidlich of Millers Falls, who gave up one goal and made five saves. UMass actually outshot Maine 33-28 that night. Waidlich played in only six games that season, a total of 181 minutes, and went on to play for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL the next year.

Ironically, as bad as Winer was that night, his most memorable accomplishments would end up coming against Maine. Who can forget how the Minutemen, who never won in Orono in those days, would sweep the Black Bears in two games in the first round of the Hockey East playoffs? And he did it with severe dehydration woes from being ill.

And that marked the first time that UMass made it to the Hockey East semifinals, bowing 5-4 to New Hampshire in a great game.

And the next season, in one of the most incredible games in program history, Winer faced 61 shots before falling in triple overtime 2-1 to Maine in the Hockey East championship game. UMass had 64 shots, Maine 61. The opposing goalie? Jimmy Howard. And I'm still mad about the goal disallowed on a Thomas Pock wrister because Kevin Jarman, not involved in the play, had part of a skate on the blue in the crease. The officials were obsessed with that back then.

Now UMass didn't get to the championship game of the 2002 Florida Classic by actually beating Ohio State in regulation or overtime. They won it in a shootout, necessitated because you had to have a winner to set up the final. I thought that might happen Thursday night when it was 2-2 with Cornell.

Thomas Pock and Stephen Werner converted on the first two tries, but Matt Anderson, Greg Mauldin and Chris Capraro missed. However, Winer allowed only one Ohio State skater to score.

Interestingly, UMass coach Toot Cahoon used all three goaltenders in that game, giving them each a period. He started Tim Warner, then went with Waidlich in the second who gave up the two goals, and Winer went the rest of the way, including the OT.

Oh, and don't get too down on not taking that Florida College Classic. After the 8-3 win, Maine, ranked No. 2 in the nation, was 15-1-2,. UMass was 10-7-1.

This time, Maine is 7-7-2, and UMass is 6-7-4, and the teams played to a 2-2 overtime tie Nov. 18 at the Mullins Center.